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Philadelphia restaurants Hiroki, La Calaca Feliz, and the Lodge by Two Robbers have announced their departures in the last week. <\/p>\n
The latest announcement was Hiroki<\/a>, sushi chef Hiroki Fujiyama\u2019s serene omakase room behind Wm. Mulherin\u2019s Sons in Fishtown<\/a>, which posted Friday that Aug. 8 would be its last service. <\/p>\n In an interview with The Inquirer, David Grasso, a principal in owner Method Co., called the closing \u201ca strategic repositioning rather than a retreat from fine dining\u201d and added that the decision was driven by a desire to stay ahead of customer preferences and culinary trends, not by problems with the restaurant or a broader pullback from fine dining. Method is planning to open a new concept \u2014 so far undetermined \u2014 in the space on Lee Street next year.<\/p>\n Method also has several new fine-dining concepts planned for other markets. Fujiyama, former head sushi chef at Morimoto, remains involved with Method, including a Detroit project called Hiroki-San<\/a>, Grasso said.<\/p>\n La Calaca Feliz\u2019s<\/a> last day at 2321 Fairmount<\/a> Ave. in Fairmount was Saturday. Owner Brian Sirhal, who opened the Mexican cantina 15 years ago with fellow Garces alumnus Tim Spinner, said its lease expired. Sirhal owns Cantina Feliz in Ambler<\/a>, while Spinner\u2019s holdings are Taqueria Amor and Riptide Tavern, side by side in Manayunk<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Lodge<\/a>, the Bella Vista offshoot of Fishtown\u2019s Two Robbers at 11th and Fitzwater Streets, announced on social media<\/a> Thursday that its last call would be Aug. 9 after barely a year. The post said it would operate as a pop-up and private-event space \u201cfor a period of time.\u201d Vivek Nayar, who founded Two Robbers as a hard-seltzer business with his twin brother, Vikram, said they decided to focus on scaling their wholesale beverage line and running their Fishtown location.<\/p>\n These closings do not necessarily point to an industry in retreat. More often, such changes reflect the constant reshuffling of a business in which closures and openings tend to move in tandem. Many of these addresses already have suitors or redevelopment plans, and there is never a shortage of projects in the pipeline<\/a>.<\/p>\n Latin mainstay Mixto in Washington Square West closed July 12 after 24 years. Lori Penrose, owner of the former South Philadelphia<\/a> sports bar Toll Man Joe\u2019s, purchased the property<\/a> at 1141 Pine St. She hopes it will open in late August.<\/p>\n Three Center City<\/a> Federal Donuts & Chicken locations and three Goldie falafel eateries are bowing out, as founders Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook announced July 14<\/a>. In the city, the FedNuts shops at Sixth and South Streets and Seventh Street and Fairmount Avenue are remaining, as is the Goldie at 1911 Sansom St.<\/p>\n Pita Pocket Eatery in Cheltenham<\/a> Village wrapped a 15-year run on July 23.<\/p>\n The Langhorne Hotel, a landmark bar and restaurant in Langhorne Borough, closed July 18 after 54 years under the Asta family. New owners Joe and Megan Kontz told the Bucks County Courier Times<\/a> that they plan to spruce it up, change the name to honor the town\u2019s original name (Four Lanes End), and open late this year. <\/p>\n A series of chain restaurants have shut down recently, including the Perkins in Drexel Hill<\/a>, the Cracker Barrel in Downingtown<\/a>, the Miller\u2019s Ale House in Springfield<\/a>, Delaware County<\/a>, and the Brio Italian Grille locations in Marlton and Cherry Hill<\/a>.<\/p>\n